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February 13, 2008

Deacons in the News

It's not every day that we find news articles on the diaconate, so I was surprised to find two recently. Here's an excerpt from the first, in which the Pope discusses the Permanent Diaconate:

I would like to...express my joy and my gratitude for the Council, because it revived this important ministry in the universal Church. I should say that when I was archbishop of Munich, I didn't find perhaps more than three or four deacons, and I very much favored this ministry because it seemed to me to belong to the richness of the sacramental ministry in the Church. At the same time, it can equally be the link between the lay world, the professional world, and the world of the priestly ministry -- given that many deacons continue carrying out their professions and maintain their positions -- important or those of a simple life -- while on Saturday and Sunday they work in the Church. In this way, you give witness in the world of today, as well as in the working world, of the presence of faith, of the sacramental ministry and the diaconal dimension of the sacrament of Orders. This seems very important to me: the visibility of the diaconal dimension.

Naturally as well, every priest continues being a deacon, and should always think of this dimension, because the Lord himself made himself our minister, our deacon. We can think of the gesture of the washing of the feet, with which he explicitly shows that the master, the Lord, acts as a deacon and wants those who follow him to be deacons, that they fulfill this role for humanity, to the point that they also help to wash the dirtied feet of the men entrusted to us. This dimension seems very important to me.

On this occasion, I bring to mind -- though it is perhaps not immediately inherent to the theme -- a simple experience that Paul VI noted. Each day of the Council, the Gospel was enthroned. And the Pontiff told those in charge of the ceremony that he would like one time to be the one who enthrones the Gospel. They told him no, this is the job of the deacons, not of the Pope. He wrote in his diary: But I am also a deacon, I continue being a deacon, and I would like to also exercise this ministry of the diaconate placing the word of God on its throne. Thus, this concerns all of us. Priests continue being deacons, and the deacons make explicit in the Church and in the world this diaconal dimension of our ministry. This liturgical enthroning of the word of God each day during the Council was always for us a gesture of great importance: It told us who was the true Lord of that assembly; it told us that the word of God was on the throne and that we exercise our ministry to listen and to interpret, to offer to the others this word. It is broadly significant for all that we do: enthroning in the world the word of God, the living word, Christ. May it really be him who governs our personal life and our life in the parishes.

Comments

Interesting articles. I've noted that the role of a Deacon is very similar in both the Syriac-Maronite and Latin/Roman Rite Mass. Our RC Permanent Deacon, as I've said, is a long time former lay friend in on a million gatherings and teachings-- and a most reverently irreverent one at times before his ordination. Once a comedian, always a comedian, but most sincerely lovingly committed, this we all knew, and the parish had no trouble seeing him in this clerical role. Actually, we were only worried that he'd not be assigned to our parish. I've fallen behind on checking Zenit, so thanks for posting this and the links. I'm glad for and with all of you that the "western" Diaconate received such a positive re-nod.

Btw, I don't know whose idea it initially was, but our Deacon offers/facilitates an adult confirmation group. It is offered to those who started out with the Sacraments, but who were never confirmed but who certainly don't qualify for either religious ed or RCIA. I'm wondering if that's something you've heard of other deacons also doing? I'm thinking it would be ideal to expand upon that delayed-confirmation welcome-back instruction to extend to all discerning reverts even if confirmed, who would like to ease back into the life of the Church with some instruction, in the event that they have been away for many years. Who better than deacons to assist in this crucial work, for they are official and knowlegable members of the clergy which is something pastoral associates and lay instructors aren't. I think our returnees would be most grateful. What do you think?

We have an adult confirmation group as well and it too is led by one of the deacons at the parish. For several years we have had a "Landings" ministry, which welcomes inactive Catholics or those who have left the Church and then desired to return, and it too was originally started up and led by one of the deacons. I may do a post on Landings sometime in the future. It's been a strong ministry at my parish and we tend to promote it around this time of year.

Thank you. I hadn't heard of this established ministry until you mentioned it. I found a webpage on "Landings," which I hope Veritas sees, who wishes her (rather deaconless, still) Church did more to welcome back the Prodigal. The program seems just what the Doctor ordered.

I'll have a look at the webpage shortly, Carol.
Deacon Dan, I can imagine just how encouraging these words of the Pope are to you and your fellow deacons. I'm struck by his humility here, and welcome greatly what he says about all sharing the role of the diaconate, recognising that there really is only one true Lord of an assembly.